Legislative Matter

Miami-Dade Legislative Item
File Number: 100351

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Clerk's Official Copy

File Number: 100351

File Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted

Version: 0

Reference: R-196-10

Control: Board of County Commissioners

File Name: TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR HAITIAN NATIONALS

Introduced: 2/10/2010

Requester: NONE

Cost:

Final Action: 2/18/2010

Agenda Date: 2/18/2010

Agenda Item Number: 11A11

Notes:

Title:

RESOLUTION DIRECTING MAYOR OR MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO DESIGNATE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR HAITIAN NATIONALS DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE JANUARY 12, 2010 EARTHQUAKE TO APPLY FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS AND FOR HAITIAN AMERICANS REPATRIATED TO THE UNITED STATES AS A RESULT OF THE EARTHQUAKE TO RECEIVE VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE SOCIAL SERVICES [SEE ORIGINAL ITEM UNDER FILE NO. 100308]

Indexes:

HAITIANS

Sponsors:	Barbara J. Jordan, Prime Sponsor
	Audrey M. Edmonson, Co-Sponsor
	Dorrin D. Rolle, Co-Sponsor
	Katy Sorenson, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision: No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History
Acting Body	Date	Agenda Item	Action	Sent To	Due Date	Returned	Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners	2/18/2010	11A11	Adopted				P

Housing & Community Development Committee	2/10/2010	2F AMENDED	Forwarded to the BCC by the BCC Chairperson with favorable recommendation with committee amendments				P
REPORT:	Assistant County Attorney Cynthia Johnson-Stacks read the foregoing proposed resolution into the record. Commissioner Jordan presented a brief summary of her intent in sponsoring this resolution and proposed an amendment to include language providing that the Community Services Block Grant Income Eligibility criteria be used for the Temporary Protected Status application process. Commissioner Jordan asked Assistant County Manager Irene Taylor-Wooten to set up neighborhood centers similar to those set up during the influx of Cuban refugees to Miami, to assist individuals in completing the Immigration Naturalization Service (INS) application process. Commissioner Jordan also asked Ms. Wooten to ensure that a County employee was designated as the primary person to coordinate and oversee the application process. Chairwoman Edmonson and Commissioners Rolle and Sorenson asked to be listed as co-sponsors of this resolution. In response to Chairwoman Edmonson’s request for the definition of “qualified personnel,” Assistant County Manager Irene Taylor-Wooten noted this did not mean all County personnel. She stated staff was currently looking to bring online an information and referral center at the Edison Neighborhood Service Center, where information regarding the Haiti Earthquake was being offered. Ms. Taylor-Wooten indicated the County was working with various agencies, including the Department of Children and Families (DCF), South Florida Workforce, Churchwell Services (phonetic), etc. to provide staff at this center to provide information and resources to individuals seeking help. Hearing no objection, the Committee forwarded the foregoing proposed resolution to the BCC with a favorable recommendation with Committee amendment(s) to provide that the Community Services Block Grant Income Eligibility criteria be used for the Temporary Protected Status application process. Chairwoman Edmonson asked Assistant County Manager Cynthia Curry to prepare an appropriate memorandum asking County Commission Chairman Dennis Moss to waive the Board’s rules and procedures to allow this resolution to be heard at the February 18, 2010 meeting.

County Attorney	2/10/2010		Assigned	Martin W. Sybblis

Legislative Text

TITLE
RESOLUTION DIRECTING MAYOR OR MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO DESIGNATE LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FOR HAITIAN NATIONALS DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE JANUARY 12, 2010 EARTHQUAKE TO APPLY FOR TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS AND FOR HAITIAN AMERICANS REPATRIATED TO THE UNITED STATES AS A RESULT OF THE EARTHQUAKE TO RECEIVE VALUABLE INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE SOCIAL SERVICES

BODY
WHEREAS, on January 12, 2010 a devastating earthquake hit the Republic of Haiti approximately 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince; and
WHEREAS, more than three million people -- a third of Haiti�s population -- have been affected by the earthquake, including hundreds of thousands of deaths and injuries; and
WHEREAS, the earthquake is the latest in a series of events that have impacted Haiti in recent years, including four deadly storms that struck Haiti in 2008; and
WHEREAS, even before the earthquake, Haiti was one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere; and
WHEREAS, the destruction caused by the earthquake that hit Haiti does not allow Haitian nationals currently in the U.S. to safely return to Haiti; and
WHEREAS, on January 15, 2010, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals who were in the United States as of January 12, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Haitian nationals in our community will need designated locations where they can apply for TPS; and
WHEREAS, Haitian Americans repatriated to the United States in the wake of the earthquake will also require reliable information and social services,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Directs the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to designate locations with qualified personnel throughout Miami-Dade County where Haitian nationals in the United States as of January 12, 2010 can apply for TPS. >>Priority service should be provided to those persons with incomes at 200% or below of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines utilized by the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG).<<1
Section 2. Directs the Mayor or Mayor�s designee to establish locations throughout Miami-Dade County where Haitian Americans repatriated to the United States as a result of the recent earthquake can obtain reliable information about available social services.

1 Committee amendments are indicated as follows: words stricken through and/or [[double bracketed]] shall be deleted, words underscored and/or >>double arrowed<< constitute the amendment proposed.